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Distinctive Marks: Torghut Livestock Iron Brands in Hobogsair


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Authors

Bulag, Uradyn E. 
Fuerwa, Dorjraa 

Abstract

Upon their return from the Volga River valley in 1771, the Torghuts in Hobogsair found that the Qing government had divided them into fourteen Sums across three. Since that time, each of these fourteen Sums has maintained a distinct branding iron for their livestock, with some originals lost and others created later. Within the Jasag Banner, consisting of four Sums, specific iron brands distinguish each Sum’s livestock. Ikhe Juun (Great East) utilizes the Tööleg iron brand, a relic from the Torghuts’ time in the Volga region. The origin of the Tööleg is found in a tale where Russian thieves stole unbranded horses from the Torghuts. In a swift response, the Torghuts tracked down the thieves, discovered the stolen horses, and branded with horse bit, legally reclaiming their property. This incident gave rise to the distinctive full cheek shape of the Tööleg in iron brand. Böörs Sum employs the Böörs iron brand, shaped like English letter “O”. Meanwhile, Manikhin Sum uses the Khun (human shape) iron brand, and Geherun Sum bears the Jongorov (swastika) iron brand. Notably, during period of the cultural revolution, the Jongorov iron brand was criticised due to its resemblance to Hitler’s flag. Despite this historical suppression, a small number of individuals in Geherun Sum still use this iron brand today.

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Keywords

Livestock, iron brands, Hobogsair, Torghuts

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Publisher

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge

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Sponsorship
Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.